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ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — Updated May 7, 2026: Escambia County deputies have pointed to two arrests stemming from the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias, including a man who allegedly tried to loot a darkened 24-hour store and a pair accused of driving off with a good Samaritan's car.
Authorities said the cases illustrate how some people tried to take advantage of the storm while many residents were still waiting for power to return. Sheriff Simmons said deputies were assigned to extra patrols throughout the area and would remain visible until recovery efforts ended.
The first incident unfolded while a stretch of Gulf Beach Highway was still without power. A deputy patrolling the area noticed a man near a store that normally never closes. Investigators believe the suspect used an object to break the store's front window and was trying to enter the business to steal merchandise.
When the deputy called out, the man allegedly tried to run. The foot chase was short, according to the sheriff's office, and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
The charges listed in the sheriff’s video update include attempted burglary of an unoccupied structure during a state of emergency, possession of burglary tools, wearing a mask during the commission of a second-degree felony, loitering and prowling, criminal mischief involving damage of $200 or more, and obstruction without violence.
The name of that suspect has not been released. The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains open, but no additional suspects were being sought at the time of the update.
A separate case started when a woman told deputies that a man and a woman approached her and said they were in the area for work. With the power out, they claimed their phone battery was dead and asked if they could charge it. The woman agreed to let them charge the phone inside her car, stepping away for a brief moment while the phone connected.
That brief moment was long enough for the two to slip into the driver’s seat and drive away, the sheriff’s office said. A nearby officer, identified as Deputy Beatty, spotted the vehicle and started following it. The suspects eventually crashed during the chase, and no serious injuries were reported.
Sheriff Simmons identified the suspects as Dustin Lee Kelly, 30, and Amanda Marie Carr, 29. Kelly faces a charge related to stealing the car. Carr was also arrested, but the sheriff did not specify her charges in the video update.
Because Florida was operating under a declared state of emergency at the time of these incidents, certain crimes can be enhanced. Under Florida law, burglary or other offenses committed during a declared emergency may be reclassified as a higher degree depending on the circumstances, meaning stiffer penalties and longer prison sentences are possible.
Legal observers say this approach is designed to discourage looting and fraud during natural disasters, when police resources are stretched and residents are especially vulnerable.
The attempted burglary charge against the unidentified man reflects that enhanced status. If convicted on all counts, he could face additional prison time beyond what the same charges would carry under normal conditions.
In the hours and days after Hurricane Isaias passed, Escambia County dealt with widespread outages, downed tree limbs, and scattered storm damage. Many businesses boarded up windows, and residential streets were quiet at night because so many homes were still dark.
That environment created conditions for potential theft, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies were sent into commercial districts and neighborhoods that had lost electricity, focusing on areas where shop owners could not quickly respond to alarms or broken glass.
Simmons emphasized that the department intentionally kept a visible presence after the storm, saying they were not waiting for calls to find people breaking into stores or stealing cars while the lights were out. That approach led to the two arrests highlighted in the update.
The sheriff’s office also used the update to remind residents not to leave vehicles running and unattended, even for a few seconds. A dead battery or a short errand can become an opportunity for someone waiting nearby.
Residents should also be cautious around strangers asking for help with phone chargers or rides. Inside a vehicle, a locked door and a running engine can make the difference between a helpful gesture and a stolen car.
Business owners are encouraged to check broken windows and damaged doors as soon as it is safe to do so, and to photograph any damage for insurance purposes. Community members can report suspicious activity directly to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office rather than confronting someone themselves.
Hurricane Isaias was still a tropical system when it moved along the Southeast coast, leaving pockets of damage and prolonged outages. The storm’s exact impact in Escambia County varied by neighborhood, but the aftermath was serious enough that emergency officials urged people to stay off roads.
No court dates have been announced for either case. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details about the pair’s arrest, Carr’s specific charges, or the evidence collected from the crashed vehicle.
This article will be updated if more information becomes available from the sheriff’s office. Anyone with information about either case is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
